3 Comments

"Loyalty is pure status, but be careful who you give it to."

There are also Alphas who, despite being Alphas, have no understanding that there are men in whom loyalty actually has to be encouraged, nurtured, and reciprocated. These Alphas, knowing they are Alpha, simply deem it their right and provenance to demand loyalty and recieve it without complaint. When they come up against a man (pretty much always going to be a sigma or another alpha) who does not freely give that loyalty, these Alphas have no idea what to do, and most often will lash out, whether through outright violence or gamma-like subterfuge. Behavoir becomes an inversion of the very characteristics they need to built loyalty. Complete distrust solidifies. In tandem with the definition of loyalty brilliantly laid out in this post, an obvious high status signal is that this same loyalty is not freely or easily given (for reasons beyond animal self-interest).

Expand full comment

The PUA scene did the world a disservice by making the word Alpha aspirational. Good. It’s where Vox was so insightful to shift the focus to observed behavior. Bad Alphas are terrible.

Two of the three adult Alphas I was close to were very successful. One extraordinarily. That one always had mistresses. The other was relatively monogamous for the profile, but treated legality as an obstacle. The third was a train wreck that has to be seen to be believed. Bringing the Alpha mindset to failure. And also chronically unfaithful. None of them stand out for morality. And they all just assume life is like that.

Expand full comment

I didn't realize it was odd to have people who were once friends leave my life, and for me to maintain the expectation that when they were ready to come back they'd be welcome to have it out with me over the disagreements. Once I consider you family, the only thing that could cut you off is direct threat to anyone else in my circle. People are too valuable not to offer mercy when asked for forgiveness. I don't know where that puts me, but I don't see my position changing.

Expand full comment